Attachment for lamp-bulb-replacing apparatus



May 6, 1930- H. D. GRgNNELl.

ATTACHMENT FOR LAMP BULB REPLACING APPARATUS Filed July l5, 1929 luvsorz aifoldl?.

Patented May Y 6, .1930

UNITED sTATEs HAROLD D. GRINNELLOF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO THE G. C. A.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or `1=ITTSF1ELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION .v

OF MASSACHUSETTS ATTACHMENT FOR LAMP-BULBAREPLAING APPARATUS Application med July is, 1929. serial No. 377,979.

This invention aims to provide an improved attachment for incandescent lamp bulb replacing apparatus to permit the 'use vof apparatus of this character ,designedy for normal application to lamps mounted in pulltype or slip-connection sockets, on lamps screwed or otherwise detachably mounted in fixed sockets. i

The invention'will bestbe understoodfrom a description Of a specific useful embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

' arms;

to which reference may be had. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view of the device as a whole operatively applied to vlamp bulb replacing apparatus of the pull socket type in which the clamping arms are shown in the open position Fig. 2, a similar view showing the parts in the closed position and gripping a lamp bulb' 1 f i Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of thetop of one of the arms; Y f Y Fig. 4, atop view of a portion of the holder on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the method of attachment of the convergingrends of the Fig. 5, a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6, across section of the vbulb and gripping attachment` onythe line 6 6 of Fig. 2

Vwith a lamp socketv (not shown) which` is engaged by -whi1e the middle portions of the arms northe arcuate channel members 12,

mally freely enclose the lamp bulb. Thus applied, no part of the arms 10 ordinarily .clamping arms 10 comes into Contact with thevglass portion of the `lamp bulb, which otherwise would be in'danger of breakage(- To permit the, application of the arms 10 a `iixed socket vwithout endangering the bulb, I provide an auxiliary attachment which may readily be applied to and removed from v the clampingarms.

In the present embodiment of my device, I provide-,a plurality of flexible auxiliary arms 13 constituting ,susf

pension membersfdetachably supported at their upper ends on the free ends of the.

clamping arms 10, and constructedof metallic strip, as for examplephosphor-bronze,

`adapted to be flexed toward and 4away from the lampV bulb, the inner ends being secured Referring to the accompanying drwings, together by suitable locking means, such as directly to the glass- "portion of the lamp bulb when mounted in PATENTOFFICE `and extending downward i in converging relation within the structure a bolt 15 and preferably also, but not necessarily, by a rigid holder 16 hereinshown asa metallic plate underlying thearms 13 and secured thereto by the bolt. To further in- -sure the given position of the arms 13 at their junctions and to maintain them throughout their length in correctv position relative to the respective Vsupporting clamping arms 10,1 provide on the holder 16 radial extension portions l17 underlying the inner extremities ofthe :auxiliary arms, each of said extension portions having lateral meinsoy Vthe 'lamp bulbbers'18adapted to be clampedr around one of the auxiliary arms 13.

Means are'provided to permit my device to be readily mounted in operative position on Vthe clamping arms, and removed therefrom with equal facility, without necessitating the use'o tools or locking the parts together. This IV accomplish in the present embodiment by theV provision of a yhood-like struc! ture on each of the auxiliaryvalms `ci: which the auxiliary arm itself is an integrailvpart, such structure being adapted to be freely slipped over the top of the corresponding .clamping arm. YTo .these zendsthe :upper extremity .of the :auxiiiary is curved outward and then downward to Jform an inverted U -shaped portion 18 which hooks over the top of the damping anm,f^the*flreelclown wardly extending end thus formed being held against outward displacement 'by an endless yband `1,9 Aencirclhug both the clamping .arm

L0 and .the auxiliary arm 1:3 .and .roughly shaped to conform to the ,contour kof the' clamping arm, the band 19 and free .end of the U-s'haped portion 18 being suitablyse-- curedtogther., Y

Gushioning means Vsuch asa plurality of tubular rubber pads 2 0 .carried on ,and e11- closing eachof the auxiliary arms 13 -and arranged at appropriate points in its length for engagement with ,the glass portions of the lamp, are prov-iderlV to insureiasuitable gripping medium ,and to prevent fracture of lt will be observed that mydev'ice constitutes a flexible open structure formingca unitary assembly which may be readily mounted on and detached from the main structure without involving interlocking conneetion therewith, or removal of any of the parts .of the Inain structure. The renewal .of the cushioning pads 2O may be easily accomplished 'by removing the securing means, namely the bolt 15, which-holds the arms 13 and holder 16 in fixed relationship.

My invention .obyiouslyy is not restricted to the particular embodiment herein' shown and described.

with the clamping armsvfor engagngand rotating .the lamp bulb inether of opposite directions independently of the lamp socket.

3. In'a device of the class described, in. combination with apparatus having a group Y of rigid clamping arms movable toward andV away from eachother for gripping a lamp socket, a series of iiexible arms movably connected together to orm an open unitary structure forV support on and within said group of clamping arms for receiving and gripping a lamp bulb `of the type vhaving a turning connection withits socket, :and nonlocking securing means.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with gripping mechanismfin- .cluding a :series of clamping arms movable toward and away from .each other ,tor gripping a lamp socket, auxiliar gripping means,

`-ineludingj v-a plurality loff exible arms connected together to formr al unitary assembly, securing means' carried on the flexible arms permitting said supplemental gripping means to `be slipped .on and oii the clamping arms, and cushioning members carried .onfsaid flexible .arms fr'orengaging the glass portion of Aa lamp bulb.

- 5. lLamp bulb` removing fand replacing mechanism, including .a series of resilient arms` movable toward and away from each other and `connected .together .to for-ma :uni-

rtary structure, said arms being adapted to directly `engaged a lamp bulb ,and vto rotatethe same in either of ,opposite directions in- .dependently of lits mounting.

VA6. Lamp bulb gripping mechanism for cooperative men-locking association with separateV mechanism lfor gripping lamp sockets and removing the same with or without .a lamp bulbmounted therein, said lamp *bulb lgripping mechanism including a series of vflexible arms connected to iiorm La unitary structure and adapted to directly engage and Vrotate a lampbulb having a turning connection with a rigidly supported socket.

7,. Gripping mechanism tor. directly engaging and .turning lamp b ulbs in either of; `opposite directions independently of thelamp socket, said mechanism constituting a unitary means for providing cooperative association between said grippingmechanism and sep-` arate apparatus Yfor removing and replacing lamp bulbs with their sockets by application directly to the socket.

8. Lamp bulb removing mechanism, including, a plurality of flexible arms Vmovably con-1.

nected together Vand forming a unitary assembly adapted to beslipped on andoif gripping apparatushaving a series of clamping arms at least equal in number to said `ilexible arms and adapted to support the same,said first mentioned mechanism'having cushioning vmellbelsfor directly engaging and rotating a vlamp bulb in either; of opposite directions lLnollgpendently ofthel mounting for `the lamp ino .structure including. non-locking securing 9. In apparatus for removing and replacing electric light bulbs,` a unitary structure comprising a series of flexible arms connected together'v at one of their ends and having their free ends arranged in diverging relation, securing means including .aY receiving portion provided on the free end of eachV of said arms adapted to be slipped overa support, and cushioning means carried by said arms for gripping the lamp bulb.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specication.

HAROLD D. (IRINNELL.` 

